Australia fought back from a disastrous start to reach 169-6 after 36 overs in the second ODI against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett led the recovery with an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership after Bangladesh reduced the visitors to 81-6.
Bangladesh dominated the opening phase. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman ripped through Australia’s top order and left the tourists reeling at 0-3. Josh Inglis then tried to halt the slide before forming a useful partnership with Cameron Green.
The pair added 43 runs from 58 balls and gave Australia some stability. However, Tanvir Islam broke the stand when he dismissed Inglis. The left-arm spinner struck again a few overs later, diving low to complete a sharp return catch and remove Green.
Australia slipped to 81-6 and looked in danger of folding for a modest total.
Labuschagne and Bartlett changed the momentum. They absorbed the pressure early before increasing the scoring rate against both pace and spin. Their fifty partnership arrived in 55 balls, Australia’s first stand of fifty or more in the innings.
Bangladesh almost broke the partnership shortly after. Mehidy Hasan Miraz reviewed a leg-before decision against Labuschagne, but umpire’s call on impact allowed the batter to survive.
The pair continued to capitalise on that escape. Bartlett attacked whenever the bowlers missed their lengths, while Labuschagne anchored the innings from the other end.
By the end of the 36th over, Australia had moved to 169-6. Labuschagne stood unbeaten on 47 from 67 balls, while Bartlett had raced to 44 from 36 deliveries.
After reducing Australia to 81-6, Bangladesh now face a fresh challenge. Another wicket could expose the lower order, but Labuschagne and Bartlett have already transformed the match from a collapse into a contest.
